90 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



It is hardy, but late spring frosts are troublesome, some- 

 times cutting down the lender growths. Light sandy 

 warm soil suits it best, and it may be placed in the 

 mixed border, rock garden, or indeed anywhere if soil 

 is suitable and shade not too dense. Plant in autumn, 

 and divide for increase ol stock at that season. The 

 roots are tuberous. D. chrysantha, D. Cucullaria, and 

 D. formosa are also pretty. 

 Dietamnus {the Burning Bush). — This popular hardy 

 plant obtains its distinctive name of Burning Bush from 

 the fact that on warm summer evenings the glands of 

 the flowers exude in the form of vapour a resinous 

 substance which gives rise to a momentary flash of light. 

 Apart from this interesting feature, the Fraxinella is a 

 handsome border plant, the purplish rose flowers being 

 very fragrant, and in the variety albus they are white. 



ECHINOPS (Globe Thistle). 



It is of bushy growth, and flowers in midsummer, continu- 

 ing several weeks in beauty. Propagate either by seeds 

 or division. Sow the seeds as soon as ripe in a pot, and 

 place in a cold frame. Plant out the seedlings in spring. 

 Root cuttings may be taken also, but it is unwise to 

 disturb healthy masses. Take these cuttings in spring, 

 and strike them in a warm soil out of doors. 



Dielytra speetabilis {Lyre-flower).— See Dicentra. 



DodeeatheOnS. — These are called American Cowslips, 

 and, if not plants for all gardens, should be grown 

 wherever suitable soil and surroundings can be given. 

 The position most agreeable to the Dodecatheons is one 

 in which the pretty little Soldanellas, Primulas, Orchises, 

 and moisture-loving plants are happy. A moist, peaty 

 soil and shelter are necessary, then one may anticipate 



a rich display of flowers. The strongest, perhaps, of 

 all is Jeffreyanum, which has deep purple flowers, and 

 this grows freely also in the mixed border where the 

 soil is light loam. D. Meadia and its varieties are very 

 charming, the flowers varying in colour according to the 

 variety, one of the most beautiful being Splendidum. 

 It is about Sin. in height, less robust than D. Jeffreyanum, 

 but delightful in a sheltered nook in the rock garden. 

 Nor must the kind known as Integrifolium be omitted, 

 with its bright-coloured flowers. 

 DoPOniClims. — These hardy and vigorous plants may be 

 readily increased by dividing the tufts, and they succeed 

 in almost any soil. One welcomes them because of their 

 bold, free habit and early flowering, the large yellow 

 flowers appearing in spring, and continuing to make the 

 garden gay for many weeks. The finest of all is D. 



plantagineum excelsum, which 

 grows in good soils to a height of 

 about 4ft., bearing a wealth of 

 golden bloom. D. caucasicum and 

 I). Clusi are pleasing also ; but if 

 one only is desired, plant 

 Plantagineum excelsum, either in 

 the open or partial shade. 

 Dragon's Mouth. — See Arum. 



Echinacea purpurea. — See 



Rudbeckia purpurea. 

 Echinops, or the Globe Thistles, 

 are very handsome plants for the 

 border or in groups in the pleasure 

 grounds. E. Ritroand E. ru'lhenicus 

 are worth a place in even small 

 gardens, as there is something 

 unusual about the globular silvery 

 blue flower heads, hence the name 

 of Globe Thistle. They are all suit- 

 able for ordinary garden soil. Pro- 

 pagate by seed and division, the last- 

 mentioned being the best plan. 

 Edelweiss. — See " Rock Gaiden." 

 Edgings. — Every yard of a garden 

 may be clothed with flowers and 

 growth if one so wishes it, and 

 nothing is too humble to pass by. 

 Many otherwise charming pictures 

 are unfortunately blurred by ugly 

 margins — a though 1 less use of 

 crockery or stokehole refuse, and 

 even oyster shells. Many a fair 

 domain is blotched with chipped 

 masonry, c;dled "statuary," many 

 a flower-bed is as patchy as a home- 

 made quilt, but nothing is so 

 foreign to all sense of the beautiful 

 as burrs, shells, or wood. Edgings 

 may be made in themselves gardens 

 of flowers and evergreen growth. 



Tiles, wood (a great fungi 

 breeder), burrs, shells, and anything 

 of a " fancy " kind should never 

 be used. Terra-cotta tiles fre- 

 quently get split by frost into a 

 hundred pieces, and nothing can 

 keep the eye from yards of edging that appear as if 

 chopped at by an axe. Cheap tiles are always expensive, 

 and always wearisome, because changeless from year to 

 year, unless frost cracks and splits them to vary iheir 

 aspect. 



Soft stone, or stone of the district, cannot be improved 

 upon as an edging. In many districts there are disused 

 quarries, and split pieces of stone make tie best 

 edgings. If they vary from the straight line or present 

 an uneven surface, this adds rather to the charm of such 

 a margin, and a host of dwarf or creeping plants like 

 the stone to trail over. Flints are of value too, but they 

 are not so useful as stone for edging. 



There are many plants, however, useful for edgings, 

 and the cottage garden frequently teaches the value of 



